The U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened that he may sue The New York Times, escalating his ongoing attacks on mainstream media outlets.
Writing on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday, Trump criticized the newspaper’s coverage of his legal battle with Paramount, the parent company of CBS.
He argued that the Times’ reporting “makes them liable for tortious interference, including in Elections, which we are intently studying.”
“Tortious interference” refers to a legal claim where one party intentionally damages the contractual or business relationships of another. Trump’s lawsuit targets an interview aired by CBS’s “60 Minutes” program with Vice President Kamala Harris, then his Democratic opponent, before the last presidential election.
He alleges that the interview was deceptively edited to omit an unfavorable answer.
Several U.S. news organizations have reported that Paramount executives are considering settling with Trump, partly to smooth the way for a pending merger or sale involving the company.
Legal analysts cited in media reports — including by The New York Times — have largely dismissed Trump’s claims as weak and unlikely to succeed under the strong press protections granted by the U.S. Constitution.
Trump, however, remains adamant about the strength of his case.
“The case we have against 60 Minutes, CBS, and Paramount is a true WINNER,” he said Wednesday.
He went on to condemn the New York Times specifically for its portrayal of the legal matter.
“Despite all of the above… the Failing New York Times, which is Fake News both in writing and polling, claims that ‘people’ said that the case is baseless.”
“Nothing like this, the illegal creation of an answer for a Presidential Candidate, has ever been done before, they have to pay a price for it, and the Times should also be on the hook for their likely unlawful behavior,” Trump added.
As of now, no official legal action has been filed against The New York Times related to this matter.
A spokesperson for The New York Times responded to Trump’s remarks, asserting the publication would not be swayed by efforts to intimidate the press. “We will continue to pursue the facts without fear or favor and stand up for journalists’ First Amendment right to ask questions on behalf of the American people,” the spokesperson said.
The representative also emphasized that Trump’s recent statement adds to a pattern of legal threats seemingly designed to deter independent journalism. “The law clearly upholds a robust and free press and supports the public’s right to be informed,” the spokesperson added.
Beyond the Paramount case involving CBS, Trump has filed multiple lawsuits against media organizations as part of his broader offensive against mainstream news outlets.
Last December, he took legal action against The Des Moines Register and respected pollster J. Ann Selzer over a pre-election poll that showed Kamala Harris leading him in Iowa—a state he later won by a wide margin. Trump claimed the poll violated consumer protection laws. The Register is currently contesting the suit in court.
In another case, Trump sued ABC News, claiming that anchor George Stephanopoulos defamed him by saying he had “raped” writer E. Jean Carroll, despite a jury having found him liable for civil sexual abuse, not rape. That case was resolved through a settlement, with the network reportedly agreeing to pay $15 million to Trump’s presidential foundation and museum.
